Self-supporting pessary



July 23, 1946. I Y. H. KURKJIAN 12,404,334

SELF- SUPPOR TING PES SARY Filed Fe b. 5,1 194s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 23, v1946. Y. H. KURKJIAN SELF-SUPPORTING PESSARY Filed Feb. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 XEM/A/Vr li IfuR/ru/A/v Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PAT EN T OFFICE SELF-SUPPORTING PESSARY lYerVantHJKurk jian, Clifton, N. J. Application February 5, 1943, Seria No. 474E368 This invention relates to apessary-an-d'iias for one of its objects the production of a simple and eflicient pessary which is provided with means for gripping the body of the wearer at the 'mouth of the vagina'openi-ng for supporting thepessary in position within the vaginaopening. 1

A further object 'of this invention is the production of a simple and efficientpessaryhaving an exterior supporting means for supporting the pessary from an outside position relative'to the vagina opening, the supporting means'also constituting a handle for facilitating the insertion, as well as the removal, of the pessary, to "and from an inserted position. 4

Another object of this invention-1s the production of a pessary having a pluralityof detachable portions which portions may be removed torender the pessary adjustable asto-size.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of the pessary;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional perspective view;

Figure 3 is a side-elevational View; 4

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view trating the supporting .means; I 4 I 4 Figure 5 is :a sectional view showing .cerftain internal parts of the human body with the pessary in position; r

Figure 6 is an exterior view showing the pessary in position andthe supporting means which holds the pessary imposition; i a

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the pessary folded and mounted within a "container;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of pessary mounted in position;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the form of pessary shown in Figure 8;

illus- 2 Claims. (01. 128-12 extending flange comprising a plurality of concentric ribs l2. These ribs I 2 may be defined by marking or-by indenting the junction of the ribs, as indicated at l3 in -Figurei2, to facilitate the cutting of one or more ribs from the body of the pessary to reducethe diameter thereof. Archanne1-l4 is'preferably formed in the outer face of the flange of'the body ill adjacentthe cup-like portion ll and inwardly of the inner rib-l2, as shown in FigureZ. A suitable medicated jellylike substance I5 is placed in the channel for treating certain vital internal parts within the vaginal canal. Since the pessary is formed of flexible rubber, :thepessary may be folded to facilitate placing the pessary in positioncor for packing in a container 1 5 of suitable construction,

such asis shownin Figure 7. A suitable medical substance nay be carried in the cup-like portion The pessary l0 carries a supporting clamp 11 which also constitutes a removing means near the front end thereof. ,This clamp I1 is preferably integrally connected tothe' lower or under face of the rim o-fthe pessary inwardly of the Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective View ofa pessary showing a detachable supporting means carried thereby; V a Figure 11 is a transverse sectional View through the rim of the pessary and detachable'supporting means of the type shown in "Figure 10; T Figure '12 is atop plan view of a modified form of pessary, certain portions of the human-body being shown in section;

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the form shown in Figure 12, the pessary being shown in a supported position;

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the pessary in an inserted position;

periphery-of the pessary, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, to provide a protruding or overhanging edge 20 above the Supporting clamp ll. This supporting clamp I1 is formed of rubber of sufficient body and strength to'cla'mp around .the front upperend of the entrance of the vagina adjacent and around the pubicbone, as shown inFi-gure 5. This clamp extends upwardlyand contracts to compress the flesh and :hold the Figure 15 is a transverse sectional view through the rim, of the pessary illustrating a sealing disc in position to retain medicated jelly and the like carried by the pessary;

pessary-within the vaginalcanal by means of an inner andouter clamping action. The edge 20 of thepessaryinthe form shown in Figures llto 6 constitutes the inner portion of, the clamp and the narrow tongue 18 constitutes the outer portion of the clamp. A knob or enlarged portion I9 is carried by the outer end of the tongue [8 to provide a finger-grip to facilitate the removal of the pessary Ill from the vaginal canal 2|. In the form shown in Figure 5, it should be noted that the tongue l8, the edge 20, and the inner edge 20; provide a three-point suspension for the sary in position.

7 sion tor the pessary.

similar to theform shown in Figure l. The pessary in this form may, be flexed'tofthe position shown in dotted lines, if desired, to fit the pes- A clamping handle 26 projects from the forward edge of the rim 22, as shown. This clamping handle 26.comprises an inner clamping jaw 21 which is adapted to engage the flesh just'inside the opening 28 behind the pubic bone while the opposing jaw 29 of the clamping handle 26 impresses itself into the flesh just above and upon the outside of the opening 28 in front of the pubic bone. This form of clamping handle 26 constitutes a two-point suspension for the pessary located at the front of the opening and will efficiently support the pessary in position whether or not theinner edge 30, as in Figure 8, is in a contacting or supporting position such as is shown in Figure 5. The

outer end of thehandle 26 is provided with a knob 3| to facilitate handling.

As shown'in' Figure 10, a detachable clamping handle 26 maybe provided for detachable 'fg connection with the rim 22% of the pessary'by means of the clamping jaws 32.

Asshown in Figures 12' to 14 inclusive, which illustrate a modified form, the pessary 33 carries a projecting tongue 34 having a T shaped head35 35 at its outer end. Thi head35 is provided with rearwardly extending rounded lips 36 at its inner edge upon opposite sides'of the tongue 34 which are adapted to be impressed into the flesh the pessary in place. In this' form the inner edge 38 ,of the pessary 33 is adapted to be impressed into the flesh at the inner end of the channe1 39 to provide a second Asfshown in Figure 15, the rim or bead of the pessary ll may beprovided with a channel E2 in which is snapped a stiff closure plate 43 illustrated. Two spaced clamping rim-engaging clips 'engage'the rim 5| of the pes'sary 52, the

, rimbeing adapted toprotrude between the clips 5|], asshown in Figures 16 and 17, to provide a supporting flesh-engaging portion 53. The clips 50 are connected by a connecting bridge 54 as shown in Figure 16, located near the rear of the clips 50 and a protruding forwardly extending clamping tongue 55 projects forwardly and uppoint of' suspen above and in from f gfl to 'hold""40 wardly of the clips 50 and the pessary 52. The

forward edge or portion 53 will constitute one jaw of a supporting clamp while the clamping tongue 55 constitutes the opposing jaw of the clamp.

It should be understood that the pessary i1 lustrated in all of the modified forms may be used for holding a menstruation padby placing the pad in the cup-like portion of the pessary, "if desired, without departing fromthe spirit of "the invention. If desired, the structure illustrated may be utilized for supporting any suitable means for internal treatment of vital parts of the-body, within the vaginal canal, by placing the means for treatment in the cup-like portion of the pessary.

The clamping portions of the various forms illustrated may be formed of any suitable materials such as rubber, vulcanized rubber, plastics, or stainless steel, or such other material as might be found most convenient and suitable.

- These clamping portions constitute a substantially U-shaped clamp or supporting and gripping means for snugly engaging the body of the wearer, the jaws of the clamp fitting directly in front and in the rear of the pubic bone-see Figure 5, thereby providing a substantially U-shaped pocket between the jaws for receiving the pubic bone and providing an efilcient support for the pessary. r

Having described the invention, what I claim is: r r

1. A pessary of the class described comprising a flexible body adapted to be inserted into the vaginal canal and adapted to engage the inner -end of the canal at one point and also adapted to engage the upper wall of the canal at an opposite point just inside theentrance of the canal, anda supporting and removing means carried by the flexible body and adapted to protrude through the entrance of the canal and engage the body of the user exteriorly of the opening of the vaginal canal, the engaging points of the flexible body and the supporting mean providing a three-point suspension for the pessaryto hold the pessary againstaccidental displacement.

2; 'A pessary of the class described comprising a flexible body adapted to beinserted into the vaginal'canal and adapted toengage the inner end of the canal at one point and alsoadapted to engage the upper wall of the canal atan opposite point just inside the entrance of the canal, and a supporting and removing means carried by the flexible body and adapted to protrude through the entrance of the canal and engage the body of the user exteriorly of the opening of the vaginal canal, the engaging points of the flexible body and the supporting means providing' a three-points'uspension for the pessary ,tohold the pessary against accidental displacement, said supporting and removing means eh- I gaging the under faceof the flexible body at a point inset relative to the outer edge of the fiexiblebody in a mannerwhereby the edge of the flexible body overhangsa portion of the supporting and removingmeans.

' YERVANT H. KURKJIAN; 

